“So we were just talking about scandals, and I mentioned to him that when I first started working at Central, there was a scandal between an assistant principal and the school secretary. People got pictures of them in the act at school and leaked them to the press, and both of them were fired.”
I stared at Quinn, completely dumbfounded. I didn’t respond; I couldn’t. Between the alcohol and the confession she had just made, I was feeling a mass of contradicting emotions. For one, I was pissed. Why would she even think that it was okay to talk to Richard, let alone discuss scandals with him at a bar over drinks? But I knew that reacting with anger wouldn’t help anything.
“Say something,” she finally blurted nervously.
I sighed, working hard to remain calm. “Quinn, Richard could’ve read about that scandal in the newspaper and used it to his advantage. I don’t blame you for this.”
“Thank God. I just have never seen you like this, and if it was my fault in any way, I had to tell you. I’ve felt guilty about this for weeks.”
“I’m more pissed that you kept it from me for weeks than I am that it happened, but it doesn’t matter. What’s done is done and it’s all a fucking waiting game at this point anyway.”
She leaned in and hugged me. “I’m so sorry for what you’re going through,” she said softly.
CHAPTER 16
It was the third week of May when I was called into Human Resources, just two days before graduation.
Jesse was already seated in the office, a desk separating him from our district superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Wooden. There was an empty chair next to Jesse that Dr. Wooden pointed to when I entered the room. I barely saw him motion to the chair because my eyes locked on Jesse’s for the first time in over two months. His eyes still looked haunted, but I saw his lips curl at the corners when he saw me, and I felt my own face break out into a smile as well. I didn’t know what this meeting was about, but I did know that we had done nothing wrong. I immediately felt the pressure and anxiety that had been pushing down on my shoulders for two months lift off of me. The only thing I feared now was leaving this place without getting a moment alone with Jesse.
I knew immediately when his eyes met mine that nothing had changed. It didn’t matter that we hadn’t had any contact with each other since that last morning we had together in his kitchen. The love we shared still burned brightly, maybe even brighter than before. As the cliché goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder; I didn’t think it was possible to love Jesse more than I already did, but I felt a wave of love course through my veins just from being in the same room as him as my heart picked up its rate.
I sat, and Dr. Wooden began the meeting.
“Mr. Drake, Mrs. Thomas,” Dr. Wooden said. The random thought flashed through my mind that he should be calling Jesse “Dr. Drake.”
Dr. Wooden continued, “Thank you both for meeting with me today. We have reviewed the video tapes from the timeframe of the accusations and have found nothing to substantiate the claims. You’re both cleared of all charges of any wrongdoing. Please accept our apologies on behalf of the entire district. We recommend that you steer clear of one another for the next few days until graduation is over.”
My heart soared. We were cleared!
“Dr. Wooden, while I appreciate the apology, you must realize what this has done to both of our reputations,” Jesse said. I hadn’t really considered that when I’d already started my celebration in my head.
“We’re well aware of the consequences of these unfounded accusations, but Mr. Drake, surely you can’t deny that something was going on between the two of you,” Dr. Wooden responded.
“What we do outside of the school day is none of this district’s business.”
“That’s not entirely true. When pictures of our employees surface that are as sexual in nature as the one that was splashed across the local news, it becomes our business to ensure a safe atmosphere for our students.”
“Their safety was never once in question. Veronica and I fell in love on our own time. We did nothing wrong.”
“I don’t mean to sound condescending by saying this, Mr. Drake, but Mrs. Thomas is, in fact, married. Some may argue that a relationship with a married woman would not be considered doing ‘nothing wrong.’”
My head swung back and forth between them as I sat quietly, taking it all in. I felt like I was watching a tennis match.
Jesse’s eyes narrowed. “Regardless, all I’m asking for is retribution for our suffering.”
“Unfortunately, my hands are tied monetarily. We paid you for the days you were placed on administrative leave, so I can’t offer any additional money.”